Medicinal foodstuffs. XXIV. Chemical constituents of the processed leaves of Apocynum venetum L.: absolute stereostructures of apocynosides I and II.

Two new ionone glucosides, named apocynosides I and II, were isolated from the roasted leaves of Apocynum venetum L. together with nine known compounds. The absolute stereostructures of apocynosides I and II were determined by chemical and physicochemical evidence, which included the application of a modified Mosher's method and the circular dichroism helicity rule.     

Modified polysulfones. VI. Preparation of polymer membrane materials containing benzimine and benzylamine groups as precursors for molecularly imprinted sensor devices

A modified polysulfone containing benzylamine groups was synthesized as a reactive membrane material. Polysulfone was activated at the ortho‐sulfone site by direct lithiation with n‐butyllithium, and the resulting lithiated polysulfone was then reacted with benzonitrile; this yielded a polymer with pendant benzimine groups. The structure was confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy and by the transformation of imine to ketone by acid hydrolysis. The polymeric benzimine was also reduced to benzylamine with sodium cyanoborohydride in an acidic medium. The structure and degree of substitution of both benzylamine derivatives were determined by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The modified polysulfone containing benzylamine groups initiated the polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydride of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate [Glu(OBzl)–NCA]. The side‐chain oligopeptide of Glu(OBzl)–NCA attached to polysulfone was converted into molecular recognition sites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1316–1329, 2003     

Shaped crystal growth and scintillating properties of Yb:(Gd,Lu)3Ga5O12 solid solutions

Shaped single crystals of (Lu_xGd_1−x)₃Ga₅O₁₂ (0.0x1.0) and (Yb_0.05Lu_xGd_0.95−x)₃Ga₅O₁₂ (0.0x0.9) were grown by the modified micro-pulling-down method. Continuous solid solutions with garnet structure and a linear compositional dependency of crystal lattice parameter in the system Yb:(Gd,Lu)₃Ga₅O₁₂ are formed. Measured optical absorption spectra of the samples show 4f–4f transitions related to Gd³⁺ ion at 275 and 310 nm, and also an onset of charge transfer transitions from oxygen ligands to Gd³⁺ or Yb³⁺ cations below 240 nm. A complete absence of Yb³⁺ charge transfer luminescence under X-ray excitation in any of the investigated samples was explained by the overlapping of charge transfer absorption of Yb³⁺ by that of Gd³⁺ ions. For specific composition of Lu_1.5Gd_1.5Ga₅O₁₂ an intense defect-host lattice-related emission, which achieve of about 40% integrated intensity compared with Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂, was found.     

Electrochemical and phosphorescent properties of new mixed-ligand Ir(II) complexes coordinated with both terpyridine and various bipyridine derivatives.

Seven useful mixed-ligand complexes in the form of [Ir(terpy)(L)Cl]2+ were prepared and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were investigated. The ligands used were terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, L = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine. Synthetic methods were developed by a sequential ligand-replacement which occurred in the reaction vessel using a microwave oven. All complexes showed that LUMOs are based on the pi-system contribution of the terpyridine ligand for [Ir(terpy)(bpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dmbpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dpbpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(phen)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dpphen)Cl]2+ and [Ir(terpy)(phphen)Cl]2+. On the other hand, the LUMO in the [Ir(terpy)(bppz)Cl]2+ complex is localized on the pi-system of the bppz ligand, whereas the HOMOs in the iridium complexes are localized on the terpyridine ligand. It was found that Ir(terpy)(L)Cl emits in a fluid solution at room temperature. The ancillary ligands, such as terpy and bpy, have been explored to extend the lifetime of the triplet 3(pi-pi') excited states of Ir(III) terpyridine complexes. Ir(III) terpyridine units with an electron donor (dmbpy) or electron acceptor substituents (terpy, dpbpy, phphen, dpphen and bppz) are found to decrease the energy of the 3LC states for use as photosensitizer molecular components in supramolecular devices. The spectroscopic and electrochemical details are also reported herein.     

Near–Infrared‐Responsive Peptide that Targets Collagen Fibrils to Induce Cytotoxicity

A novel conjugate, PHG10 dye, was synthesized using a collagen peptide and a near–infrared (NIR)‐responsive dye to achieve targeted cytotoxicity. The collagen peptide motif, ‐(Pro‐Hyp‐Gly)₁₀‐ (PHG10), was incorporated for targeting collagen fibrils that are excessively produced by activated fibroblasts around tumor cells. PHG10 dye was purified by HPLC and identified by MALDI‐MS. The phototoxicity and cytotoxicity of PHG10 dye were examined using human glioma cells (HGCs). Fluorescent images indicated that PHG10 dye preferably assembled to collagen‐coated HGCs compared with noncoated HGCs. Under irradiation with NIR light, effective cytotoxicity was observed on collagen‐coated HGCs within 20 min. Because phototoxicity and cytotoxicity are dependent on the assembled amount of PHG10 dye, the targeting of collagen fibrils by the collagen peptide motif PHG10 is assured.     

Nanotransfer of the polythiophene molecular alignment onto the step-bunched vicinal Si(111) substrate

A poly(3-dodecylthiophene-2,5-diyl) film having in-plane anisotropic molecular arrangement was successfully fabricated by transferring its Langmuir-Blodgett film onto a step-bunched Si(111) substrate. Polarized near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the polythiophene main chains are preferentially orientated along periodic facet/terrace nanostructures on the step-bunched substrate, whereas less anisotropy was found on a flat substrate. The step-bunched Si substrate has been proved to be effective for controlling the in-plane molecular arrangement in the polymer thin film.     

Regular self-motion of a liquid droplet powered by the chemical marangoni effect

We describe here our recent work on spontaneous regular motion of liquid droplet powered by the chemical Marangoni effect under spatially symmetric conditions. It is shown that a spontaneously crawling oil droplet on a glass substrate with a nonequilibrium chemical condition of cationic surfactant exhibits regular rhythmic motion in a quasi-one-dimensional vessel, whereas irregular motion is induced in a two-dimensionally isotropic environment. Such behavior of a droplet demonstrates that spontaneous regular motion can be generated under fluctuating conditions by imposing an appropriate geometry. As another system, we introduce alcohol droplet moving spontaneously on water surface. The droplet spontaneously forms a specific morphology depending on its volume, causing specific mode of translational motion. An alcohol droplet with a smaller volume floating on water surface moves irregularly. On the other hand, a droplet with a larger volume undergoes vectorial motion accompanied by deformation into an asymmetric shape. This result suggests a scenario on the emergence of regular motion coupled with geometrical pattern formation under far-from-equilibrium conditions.     

Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of octathio[8]circulene thin films in ionic liquids

We studied the electrochemistry of the thin films of octathio[8]circulene (1) in an ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (DEME-TFSI). The compound 1 exhibited simultaneous two-electron oxidation in the oxidation scan and then stepwise reductions to the original neutral state, showing significant electrochromism. This color change was well-interpreted in terms of the n-pi transition that is allowed by the vacancy in the HOMO of 1 after electrochemical oxidation.     

(1)H-NMR study of ternary platinum(II) complexes with N-(1-Naphtyl)methyl-1,2-ethanediamine or N-(9-anthrylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and bipyridine or phenanthroline and restricted single bond rotation due to aromatic-aromatic ring interaction

(1)H-NMR spectra of square-planar complexes with the formula [Pt(L(1))(L(2))]X(2) where L(1) is 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and L(2) is N-(1-naphthyl)methyl-1,2-ethanediamine (Npen) or N-(9-anthryl)methyl-1,2-ethanediamine (Aten) indicate that the N-naphthylmethyl and N-anthrylmethyl groups are forced to adopt a pseudo axial disposition due to intramolecular repulsion of hydrogen atoms of the aromatic diimines. The aromatic-aromatic interactions in the N-arylmethyl-1,2-ethanediamine complexes and aromatic diimines caused them to undergo intramolecular stacking. (1)H-NMR spectra of these complexes showed a significant concentration and temperature dependence. The monomer-dimer equilibrium was estimated, based on the concentration dependency. Restricted single bond rotation was estimated from temperature dependency data. The rotation of the anthracene ring of the [Pt(bpy)(Aten)](2+) complex showed an activation energy of ca. 38 kJ mol(-1), which is in good agreement with a mechanism involving successive rotations about single bonds with restriction by intramolecular aromatic-aromatic ring interactions.     

Bioactive constituents from Chinese natural medicines. XXVIII. Chemical structures of acyclic alcohol glycosides from the roots of Rhodiola crenulata

Five new glycosides, creosides I, II, III, IV, and V, were isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots of Rhodiola crenulata, together with 21 known compounds. The chemical structures of new constituents were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.